Engine starting device



y 1952 A. H. WlNKLER I 2,597,606

ENGINE STARTING DEVICE Filed Dec. 21, 1946 2 SHEETS-SHEET l i J Z /4 ATTM/Vf) y 20, 1952 A. H. WINKLER 2,597,606

ENGINE STARTING DEVICE Filed Dec. 21, 1946 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Patented May 20, 1952 STATES ENGINE STARTING DEVICE Application December 21, 1946, Serial No. 717,736

I 12 Claims.

The present invention relates to a: control mechanism for internal combustion engines'and more particularly to a control mechanism for starting internal combustion engines usedin motor vehicles.

Modern motor vehicles are generally equipped with a fast idle arrangement and an automatic choke to provide an enriched fuel-air mixture for starting and for operating theengine at subnormal engine temperatures. Thefast idle arrangement usually consists of a camwhich forms an abutment for an adjustable stop mechanism on the throttle valve lever of the carburetor and which is connected to and controlled by the choke valve so that the throttle valve is held at a partially opened position for fast idling while the engine is cold. As the engine becomes Warmer, the thermostat controlling the auto matic choke gradually permits the choke valve to open and the fast idle cam to moveto a'position at which the throttle valve will close to slow idling position. During normal operation of the engine, the choke valve remains completely open and the fast idle cam in the position to permit the throttle valve to close to slow idle position.

For a time after a warm enginehas ceased operation, the thermostat does not exert any force in the direction to close thechokevalve 01 to move the fast idle cam to the cold starting position, but as the engine gradually becomes cold, the thermostat begins to apply force to close the choke valve, gradually increasing said force as the engine becomescooler. The force tending to close the choke valve also urges the cam to fast idle position. The throttle valve stop means abutting against the: cam; however, prevents movement thereof by the thermostat so that thefast idle cam is heldin the position assumed during normal warm engine operation and the choke valve, being connected to said cam is prevented-from completely closing, until said stop means is withdrawn from said cam by theopening movement of the throttle valve. It is thus seen that before the engine can normally be started, it is essential to depress the accelerating pedal or otherwise open the throttle valve torelease the fast idle cam and permit the choke valve to close.

Some later mod-e1 motor vehiclesare provided with a cooperating clutch control and starting mechanism wherein the starting circuit is closed when the clutch pedal is depressed to its most downward limit. By this arrangement; theoperator is assured that the vehicleis declutched before the startingcircuit is closed, althoughit is necessary for the operator to actuate the accelerating pedal to crack the throttle valve and to release the fast idle cam and choke valve. It is one of the principal objects of the present invention to combine the foregoing steps into one single starting operation involving only one mechanical movement by the operator.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a simple and highly reliable mechanism for declutching the vehicle, cracking the throttle valve, releasing the fast idle cam and automatic choke and closing the starter circuit.

A further object of the invention is to provide a control mechanism to perform the aforesaid operations, which may be readily adapted to standard motor vehicles without the necessity of making any substantial modifications in the original construction of said vehicles.

Additional objects and advantages will appear from the following description and accompanying drawings wherein a specific embodiment of the present invention-is disclosed. The control mechanism forming the subject matter of the present invention is not limited to the embodiment and the modification thereof disclosed herein nor to any particular type of carburetor or internal combustion engine, but is understood to be adaptable to any engine or vehicle in which are included a carburetor having an automatic choke, a fast idle arrangement, clutch and starting circuit, said combination being hereinafter more fully described.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a schematic view of an internal combustion engine showing the present control system mounted thereon;

Figure 2 is a schematic view of the present control system showing generally a carburetor, a starting switch, a clutch pedal .and an accelerating pedal of a motor vehicle, the relative size of the carburetor and switch to the clutch and accelerating pedals being larger in the drawing than in standard automotive construction, to show clearly the various parts of the present invention; and

Figure 3 is a view of a portion of my mechanism shown in combination with a depressed clutch pedal.

The present control system includes in a motor vehicle an automatic choke, a fast idle arrangement controlled by said choke, a starting switch and a clutch control mechanism in combination with a linkage for actuating the throttle valve,

declutching the engine, releasing the choke and fast idle cam and closing the starting switch,- all 3 in a single operation requiring only one simple mechanical movement by the operator. The present invention may be readily understood by referring to the drawings in which Figure 1 illustrates an assembly of the several elements comprising the present invention mounted on a conventional internal combustion engine, wherein numeral I designates a clutch pedal shown in its nearly fully depressed position, II an accelerating pedal, I2 a starting switch, I3 a starting motor, I4 a battery and I5 a carburetor which for the purpose of illustrating the present invention may be considered conventional, said carburetor being mounted on an intake manifold I6 and connected to said clutch and accelerating pedals by a linkage I8. Referring to Figure 2, the carburetor which is of the downdraft type includes an air horn having mounted thereon an automatic choke 22 consisting of a housing 24, a coiled bimetallic heat responsive element 25 mounted on pin 28, an unbalanced choke valve 36 mounted on shaft 32 and a lever 34 secured to one end of shaft 32, said lever being adapted to be engaged and actuated by the bimetallic element 26. conduit 36 to a stove 31 on the exhaust manifold 38 or to some other part representative of engine temperature, and by a port 39 and another conduit 40 to the induction passage on the engine side of the throttle valve. one side of said housing is a piston 42 connected to lever 34 by rod 43 and adapted to be actuated by suction in conduit 40 to partially open choke valve 30 against the opposing force of element 26 when the engine begins to operate under its own power. The suction actuating piston 42 may be modified to some value less than that in the intake manifold by including a bleed into cylinder M such as duct 44 through piston 42.

In this arrangement, air indicative of engine temperature is drawn through conduit 33 and housing 24 around element 26 through port 39 and also through duct 44 of piston 42 by the engine suction transmitted through conduit 40. Thus, if the engine is cold at starting, the bimetallic element as shown in the drawings is so expanded that it urges lever 34 to the right and choke valve to its closed position. As the air drawn through the housing 24 becomes warmer, bi-

metallic element 26 coils upon itself, thereby gradually lessening the force urging the choke valve to its closed position until the free end of said element is completely withdrawn from lever 34. Since choke valve 30 is of the unbalanced type, it tends to open of its own accord and also in response to air flow through the induction passage of the carburetor when the throttle valve posterior thereto has been opened.

The main carburetor body 45, on which air horn 20 is mounted and secured by machine screws 46, contains an induction passage with a main and a boost venturi and a discharge nozzle disposed therein. The main body also contains a conventional accelerating pump in housing 41, a power enrichment means (not shown) and a fuel bowl or fioat chamber 48 adapted to receive fuel from inlet 49, said main body being mounted on throttle body 50 and secured thereto by machine screws 52. The throttle body is mounted on an intake manifold of an internal combustion engine and secured thereto by bolts inserted in holes 54 of external flange 56 at the lower edge of said throttle body.

A throttle valve 58 is mounted on shaft 60 and actuated by a throttle valve lever 62 on the end The housing 24 is connected by a In a cylinder 4| on of said shaft, said lever being connected to the accelerating pedal II by rod 64, U-shaped lever 66 and rod 68. The closing of the throttle valve is limited when the engine is cold by screw 10 on lever 62 abutting against the periphery of a fast idle cam "I2 mounted on stud 13, said periphery being so arranged in stepwise profile that the throttle can be held in various partly open positions while the engine is running at subnormal temperatures. Cam 12 is connected with the automatic choke by rod I4 and lever I6, the lower end of said rod being inserted in a crescent shaped slot I8 of cam 12 and yieldably held in the central portion of said slot during normal operation of the engine by spring 80. The accelerating pump is actuated by the opening movement of the throttle valve lever through rod 82, lever 84 pivoted on screw 86 and rod 88 which connects lever 84 with the piston of the accelerating pump.

The linkage I8 consists of a U-shaped lever 66 pivoted on a pin II4, rod 64 connecting one arm of said lever with the throttle valve lever 62, and another rod 68 connecting the other arm of said lever with the accelerating pedal II, one end of said lever being adapted to be engaged by a pawl I30 on clutch pedal I0, said pawl being mounted on a stud I34 and urged against a pin I36 by a spring I32. The pin I36 on the clutch pedal is provided as an anchor for spring I32 and as a stop for pawl I30 to prevent said pawl from moving independently of said pedal on the downward movement thereof. One end of lever 66 is provided with a lug I46 which is adapted to be contacted by the free end of pawl I30 when the clutch pedal approaches its lowermost position.

Switch I2 is so positioned in relation to clutch pedal ID that it is contacted by said pedal or a part thereof when the pedal approaches its lowermost position. A lug I44 having an ad justable screw I46 is provided to engage switch actuating stem I48, the screw being retained in any adjusted position by lock nut I50. If desired, this lug may be dispensed with and instead the switch stem I48 may be so arranged that it will be directly engaged by pedal I0. In this modification adjustable stop means of lug I44 would be mounted on switch I2.

Operation When an internal combustion engine equipped with the present control mechanism has been stopped after operating under normal engine temperatures, the throttle valve closes and the adjustable screw 10 engages the periphery of cam 12 on one of its lower steps, the choke valve remaining wide open completely independent of the bimetallic element 26. As the bimetallic elements cools, it eventually engages lever 34 and gradually urges choke valve 30 toward its closed position. The closing movement of the choke valve, however, is resisted by cam I2 being held in a fixed position by stop screw I0 engaging one of the lower steps of the cam periphery, though partial closure of said choke valve may be permitted by the yieldable connection between said cam and rod 14 provided by spring 80. Thus, while the engine is cold and the throttle valve closed, the fast idle cam is in slow idle position, and the choke valve is wide open or only partly closed.

In starting the cold engine, the operator depresses clutch pedal I0 until pawl I30 engages lug I40 of lever I38 and, through said lever,

rod 64 and throttle valve lever 62, the operator cracks or slightly opens the throttle valve and withdraws stop screw 70 from the lower steps of the periphery of cam 12, thus permitting said cam to move to fast idle position under the force of the thermostat urging lever 16 and rod 14 upwardly and choke valve to its closed position. If lever 66 is further depressed, lug I moves outwardlyon pawl I30 until it slips off the end of said pawl, permitting lever 66 to return to its original position and permitting the throttle valve to again close. As the clutch pedal returns to its original position, the underside of lug I40 engages the top side of pawl I30 and forces said pawl from its path. The pawl then returns to its original position against stud I36 under the force of spring 132. While clutch pedal ID is depressed after the throttle valve has been opened and closed, screw I46 engages stem M8 of switch 12 and closes the starting circuit.

When the engine begins to operate under its own power before the throttle has been opened by the accelerating pedal, suction in the induction passage posterior to the throttle valve draws piston 62 to the left, as shown in Figure 2, thus urging choke valve 30 to a partly open position so that the engine may receive the proper fuel-to-air mixture for fast idling, the throttle valve being held in fast idle position by the higher steps on the periphery of cam 12. The suction in the induction passage also draws the air from stove 31 around the exhaust manifold through conduit 36, housing 24, port 39 and conduit it. A portion of the air entering housing 24 also passes through calibrated hole 44 of piston 42 and thence into conduit 40, the purpose of said hole being primarily for controlling the amount. of suction exerted on piston 42. The air from stove 31 passing through housing 2% gradually heats thermostat 26, causing it to lessen its force urging the choke valve to the closed position until said thermostat completely withdraws from lever 34. Choke valve 30 is then permitted to open wide of its own accord or under the influence of air flow in the induction passage. The opening movement of the choke valve moves fast idle cam. 12 to its slow idle position.

If the throttle valve is opened while the engine is operating at subnormal temperatures, the choke valve is urged in the opening direction in opposition to the closing force of thermostat 25 by the air flow in the induction passage, and the cam is simultaneously urged to its slow idle position by the linkage between said cam and choke valve. When the throttle valve is again closed, stop screw Ill may contact the periphery of said cam before the thermostat has had sufficient time to return the choke valve to closed or partially closed position and the cam to its fast idle position. The cam may thus be held in its slow idle position by screw 10 contacting the periphery of said cam. The choke valve, however, is permitted to readjust itself to approximately the proper position for the particu lar engine temperature by the yieldable connection between cam 12 and rod 14 as provided by slot 78 and spring 80. This slot and spring also permit the choke valve to open even though the cam is continually held in fast idle position by screw 10 during the time the engine is warming up to normal operating temperatures.

From the foregoing description of the 'oper-' ation of the present invention, it can be seen that depression of the clutch pedal to its lowermost position executed every mechanical manip ulation required to start the engine and even.

to provide the necessary conditions thereafter for normal engine operation during the warm.- ing-up period. It is contemplated that other arrangements of elements comprising the present invention than the one shown in the 'accompanying drawings may be provided without departing from the scope of the present invention; for example, the mechanism for cracking the throttle valve may be actuated by a linkage in series with the starting switch or by a solenoid controlled by the starting circuit; further, a means may be included for rendering the throttle cracking means inoperative when the clutch pedal is depressed after the engine begins to operate under its own power.

I claim:

1. In an internal'combustion engine propelled vehicle having a clutch, a clutch pedal, a starting circuit and a carburetor including a throttle valve, a choke and a thermostat for controlling said choke in accordance with engine temperature: a control mechanism comprising a, fast idle cam; a linkage connecting said cam and thermostat for controlling'the position of said cam in accordance with engine temperature; a

throttle valve lever having an adjustable stop.

thereon for engaging said cam, said stop in cooperation with said cam being adapted to "yieldably hold said choke in a partially open position in opposition to the closing force of said thermostat; a starting switch in said circuit; a mem;

ber actuated by the movement of the clutch pedal for causing said switch to operate; and a linkage including a one-way connection adapted to be connected to said throttle valve lever and to be actuated by said clutch pedal; whereby the operations for declutching the vehicle, opening said throttle valve, releasing said fast idlecam and choke and closing the starting switch may be completed in a single movement by the operator. r

2. In an internal combustion engine propelled vehicle having a clutch, a clutch pedal, astarting circuit; an accelerating lever anda carburetor including a throttle valve, a choke and av thermostat for controlling said choke in acecordance with engine temperature; a control mechanism comprising a fast idle cam; a linkage connecting said cam and choke for controlling the position of said cam in accordance with engine temperature; a throttle valve lever'havcluding a one-way connection adapted to beactuated by said clutch pedal for actuating the linkage between said throttle valve lever and said accelerating lever; whereby the operations for declutching the vehicle, opening said throttle valve, releasing said fast idle cam and choke and closing the starting switch may be completed in a single movement by the operator.

3. In an internal combustion engine propelled vehicle having a clutch, a clutch pedal, a starting circuit, an accelerating lever and, a carbu-i retor including a throttle valve, a choke and a thermostat, for controlling said choke: a control mechanism comprising afast idlecam; a linkage,v

connecting saidoam, and choke for controlling the, position of said cam in accordance with engine temperature; a throttle valve lever having a stop thereon for engaging said cam, said stop in cooperation with said cam being, adapted. to yieldably hold said. choke in a. partially opened position; av switch in said circuit; a linkage adapted to connect said accelerating lever and said throttle valve lever; a. means including a one way connection adapted to be actuated by said'. clutch pedal. for actuating the linkage. betweensaid. throttle valve, lever. and said accelerating lever; and a' second means actuated by said clutch pedal for closing, said switch; whereby the operations for declutching the vehicle, opening said throttle valve, releasing said fast idle cam and choke, and closing the starting switch may be completed ina si'ngl'e movement by the operator.

4;. In an internal combustion engine propelled vehicle having a clutch, a clutch pedal; an accelerating lever and a. carburetor includin a throttle valve, a choke and a thermostat for controlling said choke: a control mechanism comprising a fast idle cam; a linkage connecting said cam and choke for controlling, the position of said cam; a throttle valve lever having, a stop thereon for engaging said cam,. said stop in cooperation with said'cam being adapted to hold said choke in a partially opened position in opposition to the closing force of said thermostat; a control lever having two arms adapted to be disposed adjacent said clutch pedal; a rod connecting one arm of said control lever with said throttle valve lever; another rod. connected to the other armof saidcontrol' lever and adapted to be connected to said accelerating lever; and a pawl adapted to be pivotally mounted on. said clutch pedal to engage said control lever" and to momentarily open said throttle valve, to release said fast idle cam and choke when said clutch pedal is depressed.

5. In the control mechanism defined in claim 4'for a vehicle havin the elements recited in said claim, together with a starting circuit: a starting switch for said circuit adapted to be engaged and actuatedby said clutch pedal;

6'. In an internal combustionengine propelled vehicle having a clutch, a starting circuit and a carburetor including a choke valve, a throttle valve-and a fast idle cam: a control mechanismcomprising a linkage connecting said choke valve: with said cam; a, throttle valve lever having a stop thereon for engaging said cam; a clutch pedal; a linkage between said clutch pedal and saidthrottle valve lever; and a. means oooperating with said clutch pedal for closing said starting. circuit; whereby-the operations for declutching the vehicle, opening said throttle valve,. releasing said fast idle cam and choke valve,, and. closing the starting circuit; may be completed in a singlemovement-by the operator.

7. In an internal combustion. engine propelled vehicle having av clutch; astarting circuit and a carburetor including a choke valve, 9: throttle valve and a fast idle cam: a control mechanism comprising a linkage connecting said choke valve withsaid cam for intercontrolling said cam and choke valve; a throttle valve lever having anadjustable stop thereon for cooperation with said cam; a clutch pedal; a manually operated accelerating lever; a linkage between said acceleratin leverv and throttle valve lever; a linkage between said clutch pedal and said, throttle valve lever; and a) means cooperating with said clutch pedal for closing said starting circuit; whereby the operations for declutching the vehicle, opening said throttle valve, releasing said fast idle cam and choke valve, and closing the starting circuit may he completed in a single movement by the opera- 1701;

8.: In an internal combustion engine propelled vehicle having a clutch, a starting circuit and a carburetor including a choke valve, a throttle valve and a fast idle cam: a control mechanism comprising a linkage connecting said choke valve with said cam for intercontrolling said cam and choke valve;' a throttle valve lever having a stop thereon for cooperation with said cam; a clutch pedal; a manually operated accelerating lever; a linkage between said accelerating lever and throttle valve lever; a linkage between said clutch pedal and said accelerating lever linkage; and a means cooperating directly with said clutch pedal for closing said starting circuit; whereby the operations for declutching the vehicle, opening said throttle valve, releasing said fast idle cam and choke valve, and closing the starting circuit may be completed in a single movement by the operator.

9. In an internal combustion engine propelled vehicle having a clutch, a starting circuit, a switch for said circuit and a carburetor including a choke valve, a throttle valve and a fast idle cam: a control mechanism comprising a linkage connecting said choke valve with said cam for intercontrolling said cam and choke valve; a throttle valve lever having an adjustable stop thereon for cooperation With said cam; a clutch pedal; an accelerating pedal; a linkage between said accelerating pedal and throttle valve lever; a means associated with said clutch pedal for imparting movement to said accelerating pedal linkage; and a second means associated with said clutch pedal for actuating said starting switch; whereby the operations for declutching the vehicle, opening said throttle valve, releasing said fast idle cam and choke valve, and closing the starting switch may be completed in a single movement by the operator.

10. In an internal combustion engine propelled vehicle having a clutch, a clutch pedal, a starting circuit and a carburetor including a throttle valve, a choke and a thermostat for controlling said choke: a control mechanism comprising a fast idle cam; a linkage connecting said cam and thermostat for controlling the position of said cam; a throttle valve lever having a stop thereon for cooperation with said cam; a starting switch in. said circuit; a means adapted to be actuated by said clutch pedal for opening said throttle valve and releasing said fast idle cam and choke; and a member actuated by the movement of said pedal for closing the switch of said starting circuit.

11. In an internal combustion engine propelled vehicle having a clutch, a clutch pedal, a starting circuit, an accelerating lever and a carburetor including a throttle valve, a choke and a thermostat for controlling said choke: a control mechanism comprising a fast idle cam; a linkage connecting said cam and choke for controlling the position of said cam; a throttle valve lever having a stop thereon for cooperation with said cam; a starting switch in said circuit; a linkage adapted to connect said accelerating lever and said throttle valve lever; a means including a one-way connection adapted to be actuated by said clutch pedal for actuating the linkage between said throttle valve lever and said accelerating lever for opening said throttle valve and releasing said fast idle cam and choke; and a member actuated by the movement of said pedal for closing the switch of said starting circuit.

12. In an internal combustion engine propelled vehicle having a clutch, a clutch pedal, a starting circuit and a carburetor including a throttle valve, a choke and a thermostat for controlling said choke in accordance with engine temperature: a control mechanism comprising a fast idle cam; a linkage connecting said cam and thermostat for controlling the position of said cam in accordance with engine temperature; a throttle valve lever having a stop thereon for engaging said cam, said stop in cooperation with said cam being adapted to hold said choke in a partially opened position in opposition to the closing force of said thermo- ALBERT H. WINKLERL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,048,853 Dyer July 28. 1936 2,215,614 Hunt Sept. 24, 1940 2,262,632 Bicknell Nov. 11, 1941 2,393,440 Wirth Jan. 22, 1946 

